281 days, 37 matches, countless blood, sweat and tears. It all comes down to this – the final day of the Premier League season.
Arsenal are in with a chance of winning it, but know that the odds are firmly stacked against them after Manchester City’s win against Tottenham in midweek. City have to win on the final day and against a West Ham side with only pride to play for, they will be heavy favourites to clinch a fourth title on the trot.
In the highly unlikely event that Pep Guardiola’s side do slip up, though, Arsenal must be in position to take advantage by winning their own game. That makes it essential that Mikel Arteta gets his team selection spot on.
Thankfully for him football.london‘s Arsenal writers are on hand to offer a helping hand. Here’s who they think should start for the Gunners against Everton on Sunday.
Kaya Kaynak – Chief Arsenal correspondent
Arsenal need to win. Simple as.
With that in mind, I think that you need to go for the team who are the most trustworthy right now. That for me means David Raya behind a back four of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel and Takehiro Tomiyasu. I just think you can’t risk Oleksandr Zinchenko handing Everton a chance to score.
In midfield I’m going for Jorginho over Thomas Partey. Partey was not at his best at Old Trafford and seemed to struggle in the big occasion. Jorginho, meanwhile, has proved himself under the high-pressure situations.
In the forward line it’s Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, obviously. The only point of contention is on the left where I don’t think you can drop Leandro Trossard with the goal scoring form he’s in.
Kaynak’s Arsenal XI vs Everton: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Jorginho, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
Tom Canton – Football writer
Arsenal will go into the final game of the season with what most would agree to be their strongest possible XI from the players available. Granted Jurrien Timber is not here, although could make an appearance from the bench, and therefore the back four remains the same.
Elsewhere, the team remains exactly as it was when Mikel Arteta came away with a vital victory from Old Trafford. Kai Havertz will start as centre-forward ahead of a summer which opens up questions for the position amid links to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak from Newcastle..
In midfield, Thomas Partey starts with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. The Ghanaian is also expected to be a headliner for the summer window with the club yet to decide whether to entertain a potential exit if an offer arrives or keep him for the following season.
Leandro Trossard has established himself as the starting left winger. A big season therefore awaits for Gabriel Martinelli who needs to rediscover his form and could use the summer’s Copa America tournament to give him the kick start.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Everton: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
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